Never staying @ home

[meesterjonez]

Just bought at SSR. We wanted to buy @ WLV but no availability. Our agent said people often buy into one resort and never stay there. Is this done frequently? Since WLV is not my home resort and the booking time is shorter will I have trouble getting reservations for one of the first three weeks in December? I'm sure at some point we will want to stay at SSR but for now I simply can't imagine not staying at WLV in early Dec. Thanks in advance for any reply!

 

[Divamomto3]

I have only been a DVC member for a year, but I always have heard, buy where you want to stay. You may have a lot of trouble getting into VWL during December, as it is popular at Christmas time, although I have never personally tried.

 

[ksoehrlein]

In 2002, we bought where it was least expensive -- HHI with Magical Beginnings or whatever they called it then -- rather than on WDW property, which would have been where we wanted to stay. Despite what everyone on the boards says, so far, we have had no regrets.

I don't know if we'll ever stay at HH. We have been planning our trips relatively last-minute and don't think we would ever have our act together enough to take advantage of the 11-month booking window anyway. We have not yet tried to book even 7 months out. We stay in studios and go during Value and Regular Season, since our kids are both preschoolers. The only thing we have not been able to get at such late notice has been BW Standard View. Go figure.

With that being said, I realize that we've been fortunate and that our story is probably the exception rather than the rule. If (when?) we add on, it will be to one of the WDW properties because when the kids start school, I'm sure we won't be able to pick up and go last minute during the off seasons. Maybe then I'll be able to get into planning mode 11 months out???

To get into VWL in December, you may want to call day-by-day at 7 months out and also pray to the wait list gods. We wait-listed a studio there during Presidents Weekend last year and it came through for us, so it could happen. Good luck!

 

[NMW]

We too were told by our guide that we could "stay anywhere". However after reading these boards and talking to some DVC owners we knew, we decided to buy where we wanted to stay most often. In our case it was either of the Epcot resorts (BCV,BWV). We bought a BWV resale in 2004. Our favorite time to go to Disney is also the first two weeks of DEC. While that is an off-season, not so busy, time with Disney's hotels we learned it is a very busy DVC time. I have heard this is especialy true for VWL. I guess because of the theming going with Christmas so well.
All I can tell you is that when we booked our first trip at our home resort at the 11 month window for early DEC 2005, I asked MS if I should call everyday to book day by day, or could I wait until 11 mos from our checkout date. I was told that I should call everyday because Early DEC is a "very busy DVC time".
VWL and BCV are much smaller than SSRor OKW, so fewer rooms. You may have to book your home resort (in your case SSR) at the 11 month window to insure you have a vacation. Then you can try switching your reservation at 7 months exactly. If nothing is available at VWL in early DEC, you can always try the waitlist and keep your SSR ressie. I have read posts on this board of waitlists coming through. Hopefully someone who tried VWL 7 mos out for early DEC will reply to your post.
I have also heard that BCV and BWV are somewhat hard to get 7 mos out in OCT and NOV because of the popularity of the Food and Wine festival.
Would you truly hate staying at SSR if you could not get VWL in DEC? I have not seen SSR in person, but it seems like a lovely resort. Being able to walk to DTD is a nice plus too. I have never heard of someone not ever staying at their home resort. We have friends who own at BWV but always stay at OKW in Jan because of the fewer points. They also like the quietness of OKW. However thay have stayed at their home resort a number of times, they just don't prefer it.
I felt a little mislead by our guide who assured us that we'd have "no problem" booking BCV or BWV 7 mos out in early DEC. We asked him about this several times while we were considering SSR. I understand that they are sales people, I just wish he had told us that we may have to waitlist. Oh well, hope everything works out for you!

 

[Granny]

Just bought at SSR. We wanted to buy @ WLV but no availability. Our agent said people often buy into one resort and never stay there. Is this done frequently? Since WLV is not my home resort and the booking time is shorter will I have trouble getting reservations for one of the first three weeks in December? I'm sure at some point we will want to stay at SSR but for now I simply can't imagine not staying at WLV in early Dec. Thanks in advance for any reply!

First of all, I see this is your first post, so welcome to the DIS Boards!!

and since you just bought,
WELCOME HOME!!! :jumping4: :jumping4: :jumping4:

If you can't imagine not staying at VWL in early December, I think you will likely run into some disappointments in the future. VWL is the smallest DVC resort and is highly sought after during the early December period. I would think this can only get worse as they continue to sell and sell SSR, adding to the membership list.

That's not to say that you'll never get into VWL at that time, but it appears that it is important to you to be able to vacation at that time at VWL. IMHO, you will have some years where that will be a challenge.

 

[athenna]

Welcome to the DIS boards!

Welcome home!

 

[rinkwide]

...agent said people often buy into one resort and never stay there...

[audio]<i> sound of nails on a chalkboard </i>[/audio]

 

[athenna]

I am a new DVC member also. I really wanted to buy into BWV, however due to availability I was not able to do so. I haven't been to WDW as a DVC member yet. I am taking my first trip as a DVC member in April to my ''home'' resort-SSR. Since I have never seen it (bought it sight unseen) I am thrilled to be able to see it, and get a feel for it. I am sure I will get a feel for it, and will love it. However, I am still enamored with the BWV and plan on booking there when I go in November, when I go with my best friend, at the 7 month window.
I think with your first trip as a DVC member, you may want to check out your ''home'' resort, then I think you should have no problem changing at the 7 month window for the resort that you really want. That is what I am hoping for, as my best friend and I really want to stay at BWV in November.
Good luck, you'll love it no matter where you stay.

 

[athenna]

Tell me I am not the only one up and awake at 2:00 am checking out the boards??????

 

[sagwanamu]

I just book my first ressie at BWV for end of Feb four nights. Although it was less than 2 month away, I didn't have any problem booking 1 bedroom standard view.

Few months ago, I tried book a room at the last minute. Although the plan spoiled, the MS told me that there was a room at number of resorts. So if you are not picky about where you stay and room size, you probably won't have much of problem booking a room. Of course it will be impossible if you try to book during peak season.

 

[DVC Mary]

I'm up checking on our snowstorm & the boards. We bought at BWV in 99 & have only stayed there once. We make our ressie at BWV at the 11 month window & then start calling each day at the 7 month window. We stay in studios & have thus far TG, never had trouble getting in where we wanted. We wanted WLV when we were there in 99, but it wasn't ready to sell yet so we took advantage of the program to get credit for what we had spent on our 1st trip (not a great deal b/c I had not found these WONDERFUL boards yet & other disney sites--not as good as this one, but sometimes useful).

We have never regretted it, bought an add-on at BWV, & plan to stay VWL again next time.

WELCOME HOME . . . we'll see you around the boards--especially this one!

 

[bobbiwoz]

Welcome Home, and Welcome to the Dis!

I like the suggestion that you book at 11 months at SSR and then try day by day at 7 months for VWL.

We've just added on 50 more points at the VWL because we really do want to be at the VWL those years when I can book ahead at 11 months.

Bobbi

 

[meesterjonez]

Thanks for the info. We bought in at 200 points (SSR) but if we add on points, should we add VWL points. Will this get us a earlier booking window at VWL. Even though it would'nt be our primary home resort.

 

[lenshanem]

The general feeling around here is December is the hardest month to get into at VWL. I love that place, too so I wish us both the best of luck in the future! (I own at BCV.)

I do think the DVC guides are setting us all up for some big disappointments down the road with that sales tactic...............
I mean how many potential SSR buyers are they saying that to???

 

[bobbiwoz]

I just remembered that when we were at the VWL around Nov. 13th, the trees and decorations were already up and it was just as beautiful in Novemeber as it would be in December.

Bobbi

 

[NMW]

The general feeling around here is December is the hardest month to get into at VWL. I love that place, too so I wish us both the best of luck in the future! (I own at BCV.)

I do think the DVC guides are setting us all up for some big disappointments down the road with that sales tactic...............
I mean how many potential SSR buyers are they saying that to???

We feel that way about our guide. As I posted, we asked point blank about early DEC at either BWV or BCV and was told "no problem". If I hadn't found these boards and talked to DVC people, we would have believed him no question. I mean this is DISNEY, not some shady timeshare in Cancun or someplace like that! I wonder if all guides are doing this and what will happen when and if a lot of new SSR members try to get places like VWL at 7 mos and are waitlisted. Will they call thier guides and complain? I'd hate to take those phone calls! When we told our guide we were buying a BWV resale he practicaly told us that we'd never get it because of ROFR and dishonest resale agents and to give him a call when we were ready to buy SSR!! I'm sure we would have loved SSR, we just would have been dissapointed at being mislead.

 

[Scoootch]

Thanks for the info. We bought in at 200 points (SSR) but if we add on points, should we add VWL points. Will this get us a earlier booking window at VWL. Even though it would'nt be our primary home resort.

You could do that...just keep in mind that you will only be able to book at the 11month window at VWL with your VWL points. You will still need to wait until the 7month window to book with your SSR points so if the extra points you buy at VWL won't be enough to cover the amount of time you want to stay than you may still need to waitlist or do the day by day thing at 7mos. for the extra days beyond what you have enough points for at the 11mos mark.

I agree though that your best bet will be to book SSR at 11mos and then try to switch the ressie over to VWL at 7mos so that you at least have a place to stay in the event you cannot get the VWL ressie but Dec. at VWL may be tough to get.

 

[klh]

I am closing on a HH account. Can I transfer lets say okw points into my account and then be able to make the 11 months booking on these points. Or can I only still make the 7 months booking even though I am booking with okw points?

 

[NMW]

You can not transfer points. You can only book at 11 mos the number of points you have for that resort. You would have to wait until 7 mos to book your HH points at OKW and 7 mos to book OKW points at HH. Hope that makes sense!

 

[CRSNDSNY]

You may have to book your home resort (in your case SSR) at the 11 month window to insure you have a vacation. Then you can try switching your reservation at 7 months exactly. If nothing is available at VWL in early DEC, you can always try the waitlist and keep your SSR ressie.

We own SSR and made a 2BR reservation for the first Sunday - Friday in December ('05). We're hoping to switch to VWL at 7months out but will go on waitlist if it is not available immediately. I don't have a lot of confidence that we'll get into this popular resort during this popular time, but we'll try. If not, I'm glad SSR is a beautiful resort - we'll certainly enjoy staying here as well.